Armstrong Atlantic

Coach Simon Earnshaw deserves a shot at a top div 1 school. What he has done at Armstrong is INSANE!!!! He has won 9 national championships!!!! His overall womens record since he got there is 356-32, For the men its 280-74 with a 111 home wins streak!!! Athletic directors at top d1 schools really need to give Simon a shot. He is a class act and a great guy.

Coach Simon Earnshaw deserves a shot at a top div 1 school. What he has done at Armstrong is INSANE!!!! He has won 9 national championships!!!! His overall womens record since he got there is 356-32, For the men its 280-74 with a 111 home wins streak!!! Athletic directors at top d1 schools really need to give Simon a shot. He is a class act and a great guy.

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Does he even want to coach D1? Just a guess, but I bet his phone rings every June and has for years. Makes me think he likes his gig at AA.

He definitely has that European/Australian/Eastern Bloc pipeline down pat. When our team played them last year, 6 of their top 8 players had ATP points (current or past). The team was cocky (they probably had good reason to be) and rude. The coaches (including Earnshaw) were frankly d-bags to the other teams. I was very impressed with their play, but not terribly impressed w/ their on-court antics.

They have a very good team. Rumenov in particular is a great player who would be top 15 in D1. There may be some hesitation to hire him because of his recruiting tactics and the players he brings in. But if I were a struggling D1 team with potential like an Arkansas or something I would give him a look for sure.

They have a very good team. Rumenov in particular is a great player who would be top 15 in D1. There may be some hesitation to hire him because of his recruiting tactics and the players he brings in. But if I were a struggling D1 team with potential like an Arkansas or something I would give him a look for sure.

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I think with his connections he could definitely help a team like Arkansas.

funny you mention that - Watched them a few years ago when the NCAA had the DII festival here in Houston and AA played Barry for the NCAA DII title (AA blew Barry away).......AA and Simon sure did not make any friends with the organizers nor endear themselves to the crowd and the other players. As you said Rude and the men all kinda acted like jerks and this was back in 2008.

Does he have ANY American kids on the teams??? I dont think he has one on either the mens or womens teams........doubt he even tries too

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He tries but Americans have this ego problem and think they are too good for D2. They would rather play number 9 for Georgia and never play a dual match than play D2 and make the top 6.

He tries but Americans have this ego problem and think they are too good for D2. They would rather play number 9 for Georgia and never play a dual match than play D2 and make the top 6.

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I've always contended this is a very typical mindset among H.S. many tennis juniors. Often defenders will excuse it as wanting a better education versus playing college tennis. I always advocate academics first. However, I firmly believe that kids who love tennis can get both a quality academic and college tennis experience looking with an open mind for a school where they can get both.

If you had a chance to get Georgie Rumenov would you turn him down for a 3 star American kid?

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Unlikely, but circumstances could dictate otherwise. Such as if the 3 star was offered a scholarship/roster spot first, grades/TOEFL/ACT, age, etc. Suprised we don't see more kids like him transfer to larger schools after their freshman or sophmore years. Remember Dumbiaya (sp?) transfered from Auburn-Montgomery to Georgia and played very successfully at both.

Conversely, their are a lot of international players in college tennis who are not very strong tennis players. But they get roster spots that the coach can't fill with an American.

Given American tennis jr.'s pickiness, it's easy for me to understand why many DII and NAIA top ranked teams are loaded with very strong international players.

You may not like Earnshaw,but he is a winner and gets the job done. Another national title for his women's program and national runner's up for the men yesterday. He deserves his chance at a major DI program to see what he can do it. The quotes on here about him and his teams being arrogant are based on jealousy. A top level American tennis player isn't going to play DII tennis, so quit with the he doesn't recruit American players argument. He is paid to win matches, not recruit average American high school players.

You may not like Earnshaw,but he is a winner and gets the job done. Another national title for his women's program and national runner's up for the men yesterday. He deserves his chance at a major DI program to see what he can do it. The quotes on here about him and his teams being arrogant are based on jealousy. A top level American tennis player isn't going to play DII tennis, so quit with the he doesn't recruit American players argument. He is paid to win matches, not recruit average American high school players.

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He certainly does a great job as a winning coach at AA. My only question is, why if it's true, has he not been offered a DI job or if he was offered one turned it down? I've never seen him coach or his team play so I have no opinion on his demeanor or his teams. Obviously they win and if I was a DI AD looking for a tennis coach would have him high on my short list to interview. "Is paid to win matches"? At DII unlike for example an SEC tennis coaching job is very debatable without knowing the AA AD and the terms of his employment as a tennis coach at AA.

On another note, why do they not get more regular season matches against DI teams? I can see why the top ranked teams would avoid them, but why don't they play good DI teams that are unranked?

Congrats to AA on another successful year for their men and women's tennis programs.

There is a huge difference between a major DI program and the #1 DII program. There isn't a major DI program that is going to take a chance on a guy who hasn't proven he can coach at the next level. There probably isn't a top 50 program that is going to take that chance. If he seriously wants to coach D1 he will have to start as an assistant at a mid level team and go that route or take a a low level D1 team and turn them around.

There is no way that you can tell me that some DI school hasn't offered him a spot someplace. It might not be his "dream" coaching job but that is a different issue.

Who do you think a major program is going to take first a #1 DII coach or guys like Stokke, Asse, Pedroso, Glenn, Kronauge, Woodruff, etc. who have sat back for years waiting for their chance to coach at a major program? These guys either played on a top 5 program, were assistant coaches at a top 5 program, or were on the pro tour.

There is a huge difference between a major DI program and the #1 DII program. There isn't a major DI program that is going to take a chance on a guy who hasn't proven he can coach at the next level. There probably isn't a top 50 program that is going to take that chance. If he seriously wants to coach D1 he will have to start as an assistant at a mid level team and go that route or take a a low level D1 team and turn them around.

There is no way that you can tell me that some DI school hasn't offered him a spot someplace. It might not be his "dream" coaching job but that is a different issue.

Who do you think a major program is going to take first a #1 DII coach or guys like Stokke, Asse, Pedroso, Glenn, Kronauge, Woodruff, etc. who have sat back for years waiting for their chance to coach at a major program? These guys either played on a top 5 program, were assistant coaches at a top 5 program, or were on the pro tour.

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I think this is pretty far off. I think he's well earned a nod at a top tier conference. I just question why he'd want it.

Normally, when you look at the coaches with longevity, they don't want to go anywhere new. If they are happy where they are and doing what they want to do, why move, put kids in new schools, etc.

He makes nearly 80k a year at AASU. Public record in Georgia if you want to check. Sure he does well in camps too. Mercer probably pays half that and the level of play is lower. AASU does quite well with the men and women against major DIs each fall. Narrow minded thinking on your part.

There is a huge difference between a major DI program and the #1 DII program. There isn't a major DI program that is going to take a chance on a guy who hasn't proven he can coach at the next level. There probably isn't a top 50 program that is going to take that chance. If he seriously wants to coach D1 he will have to start as an assistant at a mid level team and go that route or take a a low level D1 team and turn them around.

There is no way that you can tell me that some DI school hasn't offered him a spot someplace. It might not be his "dream" coaching job but that is a different issue.

Who do you think a major program is going to take first a #1 DII coach or guys like Stokke, Asse, Pedroso, Glenn, Kronauge, Woodruff, etc. who have sat back for years waiting for their chance to coach at a major program? These guys either played on a top 5 program, were assistant coaches at a top 5 program, or were on the pro tour.

Nobody is saying he should go to Mercer. He's saying that with his résumé he should get a major conference job which would likely pay more than 80. Goffi at SC makes 99k and isn't great within the SEC.

I have to agree with an earlier poster. I was around th Armstrong Atlantic team for two days at the Savannah Challenger a couple of years ago, and those guys were the most rude and disrespectful guys I have come across in a long time. No one would want a coach who lets there players do the things those guys were doing and saying!

Also remember he is playing with guys like Rumenov who I saw play at UGA this year and can confirm he is a great player, but he would not be eligible to play at a Division I school.

There's no great mystery preventing a great DII coach to make the jump to DI. Many DI programs have alums and many candidates lined up for a tennis coach opening. If he's making 80k at AA that confirms my suspicion that pay to make the move has to be an issue. 90k+ jobs in college tennis are hard to come by, the exception not the norm and heavilly competed for. He's probably happier than we know right where he is.

I agree with below. Probably making More money than 90% of the Division I tennis coaches in the country. Might be stuck at AASU because big Programs won't give him the chance and smaller D1's aren't worth the move. I don't know the guy, But have seen his team's play and the guy can recruit and coach it.

There's no great mystery preventing a great DII coach to make the jump to DI. Many DI programs have alums and many candidates lined up for a tennis coach opening. If he's making 80k at AA that confirms my suspicion that pay to make the move has to be an issue. 90k+ jobs in college tennis are hard to come by, the exception not the norm and heavilly competed for. He's probably happier than we know right where he is.